As the Phase I of the State Employment and Expenditure for Results (SEEFOR) winds down this year, National Coordinator of the programme, Dr. Greg Onu, says Rivers State has surpassed its targets in all component and subcomponents of the programme
Dr. Onus said this at a media briefing, weekend in Port Harcourt.
The SEEFOR project which is being funded by the World Bank in partnership with the European Union (EU) is aimed at enhancing opportunities for employment and access to socio-economic services while improving public expenditure management system in participating states.
Dr. Onu told newsmen that the success of Phase I would determine if any of the four implementing states will benefit from Phase II of the programme adding that so far, Rivers state deserves to benefit from the second phase, having performed beyond expectations.
He also said some states had already indicated interest to be part of the Phase II of the programme which would soon be signed.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State coordinator of SEEFOR project, Mr. Keliivus Amos, said the state had surpassed its targets in all components of the programme.
Amos told newsmen that the Public Works component of the project made 497 intervention in road maintenance while 21, 770 youths have engaged across the state in this component, in addition to turning of the youths on money management and entrepreneurial skills.
He also told newsmen that on subcomponent which is Technical Vocational and Agricultural Training 9TUAT) about 5,134 youths were trained under this sub-component.
The coordinator also said, under the subcomponent, some institutions were provided with teaching aides.
He listed the institutions and centres to include; Government Technical College (GTC) Port Harcourt, GTC, Ele-Ogu, GTC Ahoada and GTC Tombia.
The rest are: Government Craft Development Centre (GCDC) Port Harcourt, School –To- Land Authority Port Harcourt, Women Development Centre Taabaa, ElechiAmadi Polytechnic Port Harcourt and the Ken SaroWiwaPolytechic, Bori while starter, packs were given out to some graduates of the institution.
He further said under the Community Driven Development Social (CDDS) being implemented by Ministry of Chieftancy/ Community Affairs, 97 projects were executed in 47 communities, while under the Community Driven Development Economic (CDDE) being implemented by FADAMA III 712 cooperatives from 49 communities benefitted.
Amos also told newsmen that the Public Financial Management Reform (PRM) which is component B of the project was designed to support and deepen the on-going financial management reform efforts of the state government to ensure judicious uitilisation of funds.
Journalists were earlier conducted round some projects completed by the agency in some points of the state.
They are; a borehole and Civic Centre at Ewike Eleme, Fadama project at Fimie-Ama, and concrete foot bridge at Buguma.
The rest are: 240 metre road project at Onueke Igwuruta and Mechanical and ICT workshop at Elechi Amadi Polytechnic Port Harcourt.
John Bibor, Aminu Ngoma & Josephine Nsirim
